A total of 56 teams entered the 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. Sweden as the hosts and West Germany, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.
The qualification rounds for the four previous World Cups were very confusing, with controversial rules and many withdrawals. From this tournament onwards, FIFA decided to divide the teams into several continental zones, assign a pre-determined number of places in the final tournament to each zone, and delegate the organization of the qualifying tournaments to its confederations: UEFA of Europe, CONMEBOL of South America, NAFC of North America, CCCF of Central America and Caribbean, CAF of Africa and AFC of Asia (and OFC of Oceania after it was formed later). This led to a more organized qualification process with clearer rules, but not yet withdrawal-proof.
The 16 spots available in the 1958 World Cup would be distributed among the continental zones as follows:
- Europe (UEFA): 11 places, 2 of them went to automatic qualifiers Sweden and West Germany, while the other 9 places were contested by 27 teams.
- South America (CONMEBOL): 3 places, contested by 9 teams.
- North, Central America and Caribbean (NAFC/CCCF): 1 place, contested by 6 teams.
- Africa (CAF) and Asia (AFC): 1 place, contested by 12 teams (including Israel, Cyprus and Turkey).
However, FIFA also imposed a rule that no team would qualify without playing at least one match because many teams qualified for previous World Cups without playing due to withdrawals of their opponents. Because Israel won the African and Asian zone under this circumstance, FIFA required them to enter a play-off against a team from Europe who initially did not qualify, with the winner of this play-off qualifying. Therefore, effectively in the end, a total of 11.5 places were granted to Europe while only 0.5 places were granted to Africa and Asia.
A total of 46 teams played at least one qualifying match. A total of 89 qualifying matches were played, and 341 goals were scored (an average of 3.83 per match).
Listed below are the dates and results of the qualification rounds.
Contents |
Europe
The 27 teams were divided into 9 groups,each featuring 3 teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners qualified.
UEFA Group 1
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  England |
7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 3.00 |
| 2 |  Republic of Ireland |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0.86 |
| 3 |  Denmark |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 0.31 |
| 3 October 1956 | Republic of Ireland |
2 – 1 | Denmark |
Dublin, Republic of Ireland | |
Curtis  27'Gavin 45' (pen.) |
A. Jensen 85' |
Referee: Bond (England) |
| 5 December 1956 | England |
5 – 2 | Denmark |
Wolverhampton, England | |
| Taylor 2', 22', 53' Edwards 66', 77' |
O. Nielsen 27', 32' |
Referee: Guigue (France) |
| 8 May 1957 | England |
5 – 1 | Republic of Ireland |
London, England | |
| Taylor Atyeo |
Curtis |
Referee: Phillips (Scotland) |
| 15 May 1957 | Denmark |
1 – 4 | England |
Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| J. Jensen 27' |
Haynes 28' Taylor 71', 86'Atyeo 75' |
Referee: Dusch (West Germany) |
| 19 May 1957 | Republic of Ireland |
1 – 1 | England |
Dublin, Republic of Ireland | |
| Ringstead |
Atyeo |
Referee: Philips (Scotland) |
| 2 November 1957 | Denmark |
0 – 2 | Republic of Ireland |
Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| Cummins 53' Curtis 61' |
Referee: Schulz (East Germany) |
England qualified.
UEFA Group 2
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  France |
7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 4.75 |
| 2 |  Belgium |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 11 | 1.45 |
| 3 |  Iceland |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 0.23 |
| 11 November 1956 | France |
6 – 3 | Belgium |
Paris, France | |
| Cisowski 13', 15', 44', 72', 88' Vincent 18' |
Houf 16' Willems 61', 67' |
Referee: Clough (England) |
| 2 June 1957 | France |
8 – 0 | Iceland |
Nantes, France | |
| C. Oliver 6', 11' Vincent 29', 83'Dereuddre 36'Piantoni 45', 81'Brahimi 49' |
Referee: Ellis (England) |
| 4 June 1957 | Belgium |
8 – 3 | Iceland |
Brussels, Belgium | |
| Coppens Mees Orlans Piters Vandenberg |
Þórðarson 33', 78' R. Jónsson 82' |
Referee: Blitgen (Luxembourg) |
| 1 September 1957 | Iceland |
1 – 5 | France |
Reykjavik, Iceland | |
| Þ. Jónsson 64' |
Cisowski 29', 32' Ujlaki 48', 66'Wisnieski 53' |
Referee: Davidson (Scotland) |
| 4 September 1957 | Iceland |
2 – 5 | Belgium |
Reykjavik, Iceland | |
| R. Jónsson 1' Þórðarson 73' |
Vandenberg Van Herpe Willems |
Referee: Davidson (Scotland) |
| 27 November 1957 | Belgium |
0 – 0 | France |
Brussels, Belgium | |
| Referee: Helge (Denmark) |
France qualified.
UEFA Group 3
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hungary |
6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 3.00 |
| 2 |  Bulgaria |
4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 1.57 |
| 3 |  Norway |
2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 0.20 |
| 22 May 1957 | Norway |
1 – 2 | Bulgaria |
Oslo, Norway | |
| Hennum |
G. Dimitrov |
Referee: Lindberg (Sweden) |
| 12 June 1957 | Norway |
2 – 1 |  Hungary |
Oslo, Norway | |
| Hennum K. Kristiansen |
Tichy |
Referee: Helge (Denmark) |
| 23 June 1957 | Hungary |
4 – 1 | Bulgaria |
Budapest, Hungary | |
| Machos Bozsik |
G. Dimitrov |
Referee: Guigue (France) |
| 15 September 1957 | Bulgaria |
1 – 2 | Hungary |
Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Diev |
Hidegkuti |
Referee: Bernardi (Italy) |
| 3 November 1957 | Bulgaria |
7 – 0 | Norway |
Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Iliev Panayotov Debarski Yanev |
Referee: Macko (Czechoslovakia) |
| 10 November 1957 | Hungary |
5 – 0 | Norway |
Budapest, Hungary | |
| Csordás Machos Sándor |
Referee: Dusch (West Germany) |
Hungary qualified.
UEFA Group 4
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Czechoslovakia |
6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 3.00 |
| 2 |  Wales |
4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1.20 |
| 3 |  East Germany |
2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 0.42 |
| 1 May 1957 | Wales |
1 – 0 | Czechoslovakia |
Cardiff, Wales | |
| Vernon |
Referee: Bronkhorst (Netherlands) |
| 19 May 1957 | East Germany |
2 – 1 | Wales |
Leipzig, East Germany | |
| Wirth 21' Tröger 61' |
M. Charles 6' |
Referee: Latichev (Soviet Union) |
| 26 May 1957 | Czechoslovakia |
2 – 0 | Wales |
Prague, Czechoslovakia | |
| Kraus Daniel |
Referee: Wyssling () |
| 16 June 1957 | Czechoslovakia |
3 – 1 | East Germany |
Brno, Czechoslovakia | |
| Kraus 60' Bubník 81'Molnár 89' |
Wirth 18' |
Referee: Jörgensen (Denmark) |
| 25 September 1957 | Wales |
4 – 1 | East Germany |
Cardiff, Wales | |
| Palmer 38', 44', 73' Jones 42' |
Kaiser 57' |
Referee: Leafe (England) |
| 27 October 1957 | East Germany |
1 – 4 | Czechoslovakia |
Leipzig, East Germany | |
| H. Müller 35' |
Kraus 4', 88' Moravčík 23'Novák 43' |
Referee: Schwinte (France) |
Czechoslovakia qualified. Wales received another chance to qualify after being drawn to play against Israel in a special play-off; see CAF / AFC Final Round and Play-off.
UEFA Group 5
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Austria |
7 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 4.67 |
| 2 |  Netherlands |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 1.71 |
| 3 |  Luxembourg |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 0.16 |
| 30 September 1956 | Austria |
7 – 0 | Luxembourg |
Vienna, Austria | |
| Hanappi Wagner Haummer Kozlicek Walzhofer |
Referee: Liverani (Italy) |
| 20 March 1957 | Netherlands |
4 – 1 | Luxembourg |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Van der Gijp Brusselers Dillen |
Halsdorf |
Referee: Treichel (West Germany) |
| 26 May 1957 | Austria |
3 – 2 | Netherlands |
Vienna, Austria | |
| Buzek Koller Stotz |
Van Melis |
Referee: Schmetzer (West Germany) |
| 11 September 1957 | Netherlands |
5 – 2 | Luxembourg |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Lenstra Rijvers Van Melis Wilkens |
Fiedler Letsch |
Referee: Murdoch (England) |
| 25 September 1957 | Netherlands |
1 – 1 | Austria |
Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| Lenstra |
Hanappi |
Referee: Euis (England) |
| 29 September 1957 | Luxembourg |
0 – 3 | Austria |
Luxembourg, Luxembourg | |
| Dienst Kozlicek Senekowitsch |
Referee: Versyp (Belgium) |
Austria qualified.
UEFA Group 6
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1= |  Soviet Union |
6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 3 | 5.33 |
| 1= |  Poland |
6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1.80 |
| 3 |  Finland |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 0.11 |
| 23 June 1957 | Soviet Union |
3 – 0 | Poland |
Moscow, Soviet Union | |
| Tatushin 9' Simonyan 55'Ilyin 77' |
Referee: Clough (England) |
| 5 July 1957 | Finland |
1 – 3 | Poland |
Helsinki, Finland | |
| Vanhanen 72' |
Jankowski 19', 56', 65' |
Referee: Nilsen (Norway) |
| 27 July 1957 | Soviet Union |
2 – 1 | Finland |
Moscow, Soviet Union | |
| Voinov 23' Netto 62' |
Lahtinen 42' |
Referee: Mayer (Austria) |
| 15 August 1957 | Finland |
0 – 10 | Soviet Union |
Helsinki, Finland | |
| Netto 6' Simonyan 9', 13', 31'Isayev 12', 20'Streltsov 29', 49'Ilyin 60', 87' |
Referee: A. Asmussen (Denmark) |
| 20 Octover 1957 | Poland |
2 – 1 | Soviet Union |
Chorzów, Poland | |
| Cieślik 43', 50' |
Ivanov 80' |
Referee: Clough (England) |
| 3 November 1957 | Poland |
4 – 0 | Finland |
Warsaw, Poland | |
| Gawlik 2' Brychczy 4', 48'Jankowski 60' |
Referee: Dusch (West Germany) |
Poland and USSR finished level on points, a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify.
| 24 November 1957 | Soviet Union |
2 – 0 | Poland |
Leipzig, East Germany | |
| Streltsov 31' Fedosov 75' |
Referee: Clough (England) |
USSR qualified.
UEFA Group 7
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yugoslavia |
6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 3.50 |
| 2 |  Romania |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1.50 |
| 3 |  Greece |
1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0.22 |
| 5 May 1957 | Greece |
0 – 0 | Yugoslavia |
Athens, Greece | |
| Referee: Devillers (France) |
| 16 June 1957 | Greece |
1 – 2 | Romania |
Athens, Greece | |
| Panakis |
A. Ede Ozon |
Referee: Harzic (France) |
| 29 September 1957 | Romania |
1 – 1 | Yugoslavia |
Bucharest, Romania | |
| A. Ede |
Mujić |
Referee: Grill (Austria) |
| 3 November 1957 | Romania |
3 – 0 | Greece |
Bucharest, Romania | |
| Cacoveanu Petschovsky Tătaru |
Referee: Schwinte (France) |
| 10 November 1957 | Yugoslavia |
4 – 1 | Greece |
Belgrade, Yugoslavia | |
| Mujić Krstić Petaković |
Nestoridis |
Referee: Jonni (Italy) |
| 17 November 1957 | Yugoslavia |
2 – 0 | Romania |
Belgrade, Yugoslavia | |
| Milutinović |
Referee: Seipelt (Austria) |
Yugoslavia qualified.
UEFA Group 8
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Northern Ireland |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2.00 |
| 2 |  Italy |
4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1.00 |
| 3 |  Portugal |
3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0.57 |
| 16 January 1957 | Portugal |
1 – 1 | Northern Ireland |
Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Vasques |
Bingham |
Referee: Lequesne (France) |
| 25 April 1957 | Italy |
1 – 0 | Northern Ireland |
Rome, Italy | |
| Cervato 3' |
Referee: Guigue (France) |
| 1 May 1957 | Northern Ireland |
3 – 0 | Portugal |
Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Casey McIlroy Simpson |
Referee: Phillips (Scotland) |
| 26 May 1957 | Portugal |
3 – 0 | Italy |
Lisbon, Portugal | |
| Vasques 41' Teixeira 81'Matateu 87' |
Referee: Treichel (West Germany) |
| 22 December 1957 | Italy |
3 – 0 | Portugal |
Milan, Italy | |
| Gratton 36', 72' Pivatelli 84' |
Referee: Damiani (Yugoslavia) |
| 15 January 1958 | Northern Ireland |
2 – 1 | Italy |
Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| McIlroy 13' Cush 28' |
Da Costa 56' |
Referee: Zsolt (Hungary) |
Northern Ireland qualified.
UEFA Group 9
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Scotland |
6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 1.11 |
| 2 |  Spain |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 1.50 |
| 3 |  Switzerland |
1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 0.55 |
| 10 March 1957 | Spain |
2 – 2 | Switzerland |
Madrid, Spain | |
| Miguel Suárez |
Hügi |
Referee: Erich (West Germany) |
| 8 May 1957 | Scotland |
4 – 2 | Spain |
Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Mudie Hewie |
Kubala Suárez |
Referee: Dusch (West Germany) |
| 19 May 1957 | Switzerland |
1 – 2 | Scotland |
Basel, Switzerland | |
| R. Vonlanthen |
Collins Mudie |
Referee: Seipelt (Austria) |
| 26 May 1957 | Spain |
4 – 1 | Scotland |
Madrid, Spain | |
| Basora Kubala Matoes |
Smith |
Referee: Leafe (England) |
| 6 November 1957 | Scotland |
3 – 2 | Switzerland |
Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Mudie Robertson Scott |
Riva R. Vonlanthen |
Referee: Leafe (England) |
| 24 November 1957 | Switzerland |
1 – 4 | Spain |
Lausanne, Switzerland | |
| Ballaman |
Di Stéfano Kubala |
Referee: Alsteen (Belgium) |
Scotland qualified.
South America
The 9 teams were divided into 3 groups of 3 teams each. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify.
CONMEBOL Group 1
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Brazil |
3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 |  Peru |
1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| — |  Venezuela |
withdrew | ||||||
| 13 April 1957 | Peru |
1 – 1 | Brazil |
Lima, Peru | |
| Terry 38' |
Índio |
Referee: Rodriguez (Uruguay) |
| 21 April 1957 | Brazil |
1 – 0 | Peru |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Didi |
Referee: Marino (Uruguay) |
Brazil qualified.
CONMEBOL Group 2
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Argentina |
6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| 2 |  Bolivia |
4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 |  Chile |
2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
| 22 September 1957 | Chile |
2 – 1 | Bolivia |
Santiago, Chile | |
| Díaz Ramírez |
Alcón |
Referee: Wyssling (Switzerland) |
| 29 September 1957 | Bolivia |
3 – 0 | Chile |
La Paz, Bolivia | |
| Alcócer Ugarte |
Referee: Wyssling (Switzerland) |
| 6 October 1957 | Bolivia |
2 – 0 | Argentina |
La Paz, Bolivia | |
| Alcócer 13' Ramírez 62' |
Referee: Wyssling (Switzerland) |
| 13 October 1957 | Chile |
0 – 2 | Argentina |
Santiago, Chile | |
| Conde Menéndez |
Referee: Wyssling (Switzerland) |
| 20 October 1957 | Argentina |
4 – 0 | Chile |
Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Corbatta Menéndez Zaraté |
Referee: Wyssling (Switzerland) |
| 27 October 1957 | Argentina |
4 – 0 | Bolivia |
Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Corbatta Menéndez Prado Zaraté |
Referee: Wyssling (Switzerland) |
Argentina qualified.
CONMEBOL Group 3
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Paraguay |
6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 4 |
| 2 |  Uruguay |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 3 |  Colombia |
1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 16 June 1957 | Colombia |
1 – 1 | Uruguay |
Bogota, Colombia | |
| Arango 15' |
Ambrois 46' |
Referee: Husband (England) |
| 20 June 1957 | Colombia |
2 – 3 | Paraguay |
Bogota, Colombia | |
| Díaz Gutiérrez |
Agüero A. Jara |
Referee: Husband (England) |
| 30 June 1957 | Uruguay |
1 – 0 | Colombia |
Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| Míguez 89' (pen.) |
Referee: Husband (England) |
| 7 July 1957 | Paraguay |
3 – 0 | Colombia |
Asuncion, Paraguay | |
| Aguilera A. Jara E. Jara |
Referee: Husband (England) |
| 14 July 1957 | Paraguay |
5 – 0 | Uruguay |
Asuncion, Paraguay | |
| Amarilla 5', 48', 57' A. Jara 88'Agüero 90' |
Referee: Husband (England) |
| 28 July 1957 | Uruguay |
2 – 0 | Paraguay |
Montevideo, Uruguay | |
| Benítez 8' Martínez 88' |
Referee: Husband (England) |
Paraguay qualfied.
North, Central America and Caribbean
There would be two rounds of play:
- First Round: The 6 teams were divided into 2 groups with 3 teams each (Group 1 with teams from North America and Group 2 with teams from Central America and Caribbean). The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would advance to the Final Round.
- Final Round: The 2 teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner would qualify.
CCCF/NAFC First Round
Group 1
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Mexico |
8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| 2 |  Canada |
4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
| 3 |  United States |
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 21 |
| 7 April 1957 | Mexico |
6 – 0 | United States |
Mexico City, Mexico | |
| C. Gutierrez 14', 26' Reyes 33', 69', 76'A. Hernandez 63' |
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles) |
| 28 April 1957 | United States |
2 – 7 | Mexico |
Los Angeles, United States | |
| Murphy 5', 45' |
Keough 20' (o.g.) A. Hernandez 31', 83'C. Gutierrez 35'H. Hernandez
|
Referee: Morgan (Canada) |
| 22 June 1957 | Canada |
5 – 1 | United States |
Toronto, Canada | |
| Hughes McLeod Phillcy Stewart |
Keough |
Referee: Sadler (Canada) |
| 30 June 1957 | Mexico |
3 – 0 | Canada |
Mexico City, Mexico | |
| C. González 5', 85' C. Gutierrez 46' |
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles) |
| 3 July 1957 | Mexico |
2 – 0 | Canada |
Mexico City, Mexico | |
| C. Gutierrez 8' Sesma 27' |
Referee: Van Rosberg (Netherlands Antilles) |
| 6 July 1957 | United States |
2 – 3 | Canada |
St. Louis, United States | |
| Rooney McLeod |
Stewart Beraza |
Referee: Lutostanski (United States) |
Mexico advanced to the Final Round.
Group 2
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Costa Rica |
8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
| 2 | Netherlands Antilles |
2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 |  Guatemala |
0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| 10 February 1957 | Guatemala |
2 – 6 | Costa Rica |
Guatemala City, Guatemala | |
| Espinoza Vikers |
Monge Jimenez Murillo Rodriguez |
Referee: Sundheim (Colombia) |
| 17 February 1957 | Costa Rica |
3 – 1 (66')[1] |
Guatemala |
San José, Costa Rica | |
| Herrera Jimenez Montero |
Referee: Orrego (Colombia) |
| 3 March 1957 | Costa Rica |
4 – 0 | Netherlands Antilles |
San José, Costa Rica | |
| Murillo Herrera Jimenez |
Referee: McKenna (England) |
| 14 March 1957 | Guatemala |
1 – 3 | Netherlands Antilles |
Guatemala City, Guatemala | |
| Contreras |
Schoop Daal |
Referee: Sundheim (Colombia) |
| 4 August 1957 | Netherlands Antilles |
1 – 2 | Costa Rica |
Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles | |
| Schoop |
Monge Montero |
Referee: Orlandini (Italy) |
Costa Rica advanced to the Final Round. Netherlands Antilles v Guatemala was not played because the Guatemalan players were not permitted to travel to the Netherlands Antilles. However, neither team would have been able to advance with a win regardless.
CCCF/NAFC Final Round
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico |
3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 | Costa Rica |
1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 20 October 1957 | Mexico |
2 – 0 | Costa Rica |
Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Calderón Sesma |
Referee: Husband (England) |
| 27 October 1957 | Costa Rica |
1 – 1 | Mexico |
San José, Costa Rica | |
| Soto 32' |
L. Lizorio 27' |
Referee: Husband (England) |
Mexico qualified.
Africa and Asia
FIFA rejected the entries of 
Ethiopia and 
Korea Republic[2]. The remaining 10 teams played in a knockout tournament, with matches on a home-and-away basis. The tournament winner would qualify.
CAF / AFC Preliminary Round
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Indonesia |
advanced | ||||||
| — |  Republic of China |
withdrew | ||||||
Republic of China withdrew, so Indonesia advanced to the First Round automatically.
CAF / AFC First Round
Group 1
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Ave |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1= | Indonesia |
2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.25 |
| 1= |  China PR |
2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.8 |
| — |  Hong Kong |
withdrew | |||||||
| 12 May 1957 | Indonesia |
2 – 0 | China PR |
Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Ramang Witarsa |
Referee: Jonni (Italy) |
| 2 June 1957 | China PR |
4 – 3 | Indonesia |
Beijing, China | |
| Wang Lu Ha Tseung Kuang Sun Fu Cheng |
Witarsa S. Hassan |
Referee: Chakravarti (India) |
China PR and Indonesia finished level on points, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would advance to the Second Round.
| 23 June 1957 | Indonesia |
0 – 0 (a.e.t.) |
China PR |
Rangoon, Burma | |
| Referee: U Ba Thaung () |
Indonesia advanced to the Second Round by having a better goal average. (Penalty shootouts had not been invented.)
Group 2
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Israel |
advanced | ||||||
| — |  Turkey |
withdrew | ||||||
Turkey refused to compete in the Asian group, so Israel advanced to the Second Round automatically.
Group 3
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Egypt |
advanced | ||||||
| — |  Cyprus |
withdrew | ||||||
Cyprus withdrew, so Egypt advanced to the Second Round automatically.
Group 4
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Sudan |
3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 |  Syria |
1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 8 March 1957 | Sudan |
1 – 0 | Syria |
Khartoum, Sudan | |
| M. Osman |
Referee: Pieri (Italy) |
| 24 May 1957 | Syria |
1 – 1 | Sudan |
Damascus, Syria | |
| Ciabra |
M. Osman |
Referee: loannidis (Greece) |
Sudan advanced.
CAF / AFC Second Round
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1= | Israel |
advanced | ||||||
| 1= | Sudan |
advanced | ||||||
| — | Egypt |
withdrew | ||||||
| — | Indonesia |
withdrew | ||||||
Indonesia withdrew after FIFA rejected their request to play against Israel on neutral ground. Israel advanced to the Final Round automatically. Egypt withdrew, so Sudan advanced to the Final Round automatically.
CAF / AFC Final Round and Play-off
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Israel |
advanced | ||||||
| — | Sudan |
withdrew | ||||||
Sudan refused to play against Israel, so Israel would technically qualify automatically, but before the qualification rounds began, FIFA ruled that no team would qualify without playing at least one match (except for the defending champions and the hosts), and Israel had yet to play any.
So a special play-off was created between Israel and the runner-up of one of the UEFA Groups, where the teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis, with the winner qualifying. After Belgium refused, Wales, the runner-up of UEFA Group 4, was the team drawn from the UEFA group runners-up.
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wales |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | Israel |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 15 January 1958 | Israel |
0 – 2 | Wales |
Tel-Aviv, Israel | |
| L. Allchurch Bowen |
Referee: Guigue (France) |
| 5 February 1958 | Wales |
2 – 0 | Israel |
Cardiff, Wales | |
| I. Allchurch Jones |
Referee: Schipper (Netherlands) |
Wales qualified.
Qualified teams
| Team | Finals Appearance | Streak | Last Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina |
3rd | 1 | 1934 |
| Austria |
3rd | 2 | 1954 |
| Brazil |
6th | 6 | 1954 |
| Czechoslovakia |
4th | 2 | 1954 |
| England |
3rd | 3 | 1954 |
| France |
5th | 2 | 1954 |
| Hungary |
4th | 2 | 1954 |
| Mexico |
4th | 3 | 1954 |
| Northern Ireland |
1st | 1 | – |
| Paraguay |
3rd | 1 | 1950 |
| Scotland |
2nd | 2 | 1954 |
 Sweden [3] |
4th | 1 | 1950 |
| Soviet Union |
1st | 1 | – |
| Wales |
1st | 1 | – |
| West Germany[4] |
4th | 2 | 1954 |
| Yugoslavia |
4th | 3 | 1954 |
Notes
- For the first (and as of 2010, only) time, all four UK teams (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) qualified.
- Wales is the only team to qualify after having been eliminated but then reinstated. This was Wales' only qualification for a World Cup, and they have hence never qualified through the European rounds of World Cup Qualifying.
- It is the second and last time that Italy misses a World Cup.
Footnotes
- ^ Match interrupted in the 66th minute by Guatemala abandoning the pitch; the result was later affirmed.
- ^ FIFA Fact Sheet - History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition Page 35 accessed 22 November 2009
- ^ Qualified automatically as hosts
- ^ Qualified automatically as defending champions
See also
External links
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